Cheese-cutter.



PATENTED OCT. 29, 1907. WLP. KESSLER. CHEESE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 00131, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES;

mp IINVENTOI? No. 869,308. PATENTED 00129. 1907.

" W F KESSLER. CHEESE GUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 31, 1904.

s sums-SHEET m INVENTOR WIT/M18858:

%-f ATTORNEYS.

n4: NaR'RJs PETERS co., WASHINGTON, 11c

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

WILLIAM F. KESSLER, OF AUBURN, INDIANA.

CHEESE-CUTTER.

Application filed October 31.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KEssLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Dekalb, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cheese-Cutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in that type of cheese-cutting appliances in which is provided a gage for determining the predetermined size or value of cuts from the cheese.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of economical construction, efficient and reliable in action, wherewith a cheese of any size or weight within the capacity of the apparatus, may be divided or subdivided into parts of any desired given weight or size, without further attention on the part of the salesmanor. operator than the preliminary setting .of the apparatus in accordance with the total weight of the cheese to be divided or subdivided.

The novel features of my invention reside in the manner of mounting the cheese cutting knife, and the means for imparting to it a draw-cut in cutting through the hard exterior rind as it enters the cheese; the means for temporarily balancing the cheese supporting turn-table as to secure a proper centering of a cheese which has been sagged out of shape by heat or in storage or other cause; the means for measuring any desired aliquot part of the cheese before severing the same; and the means for firmly holding the cheese body in position while cutting a piece therefrom; and also in the means for actuating the cheese carrying turn-table.

My invention consists of a circular turn-table for supporting the cheese, rotatably mounted upon a suitable base; means for pivotally balancing the said table at its center; means for actuating the said table rotatably; a radially arranged and pivotally mounted knife whose cutting action is automatically controlled in its descent; means for guiding and directing the knife in its operation means for rigidly securing the cheese body in position while slicing the pieces therefrom; and an indicating mechanism in cooperative arrangement with the turn-table which enables the operator to cut the exact amount desired from the cheese in accordance with a segmental scale in cooperative arrangement with said mechanism.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention showing the relative arrangement of the operating parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same taken on the lines a:x of Fig. 4, showing the means for elevating and actuating the cheese supporting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

1904. Serial No. 230x648- turn-table. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the turn-table partly broken away to show the meshing gears by which it is actuated. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the feeding and indicating mechanism omitted, and showing the cutting knife in its normal position and shown in its elevated position by dotted outlines. larged perspective detail of the attachment for rigidly securing the cheese body while cutting the same. Fig. 7 is a detail of the indicating finger for the segmental scale plate.

In the cylindrical base 1 is arranged a fixed or integral spider 2 having a central hub 3 in which is rotatably mounted the pendent stud 5, to whose upper end is rigidly fixed the large gear 6, to which is secured the turn table 4. To the lower face of the turn table 4 is fixed a series of metal washers 7 at its perimeter, adapted to project over the upper edge of the base 1 for the purpose of normally supporting the turn-table. To the lower face of the spider 2 at or near its center is fixed a pendent bifurcated hanger'8 in which is pivotally mounted a hand-lever 9 whose outer end projects through a slot 10 in the base 1, having an offset 11 in the lower end thereof. The inner end of the lever 9 rests directly beneath the conical lower. end of the stud 5, and is adapted to elevate the said stud and its surmounted turn-table,

Fig. 6 is an enand to support the same in an elevated position, as

shown by dotted outline in Fig. 3, when the handle of the lever 9 is secured in the offset 11, for the purpose hereafter described.

A gear wheel 14 is rotatably mounted on the stud 13 which is fixed in the spider 2, and is adapted for a meshing engagement with the gear wheel 6. On the lower end of the operating shaft 15, Fig. 1, is rigidly fixed the gear wheel 16 in mesh with the gear wheel 14, and adapted to actuate the turn-table through the medium of the wheels 14 and 6. On the opposite sides of the shaft 15 and immediately adjacent thereto, are arranged the fixed upright standards 17 on the base 1 having upon their upper ends the fixed scaleplate 18, through which passes the upper end of the rod 15. Onthe upper end of this rod 15 is pivotally arranged the op eratinghandle 19, having a casing 12 upon its inner end containing a ratchet 2O fixed on the shaft 15, and also containing a pivoted pawl 21 having a holding engagement with the ratchet to prevent the rotation of the handle, with respect to the shaft 15, in more than one direction.

On the upper end of the shaft 15, immediately below the handle 19, is frictionally'rnounted the indicating arm 23 which is directly above and in cooperative relation with the scale plate 18. Immediately below the innerend of the arm 23 is rigidly fixed on said shaft15 the collar 26 on the upper face of which the inner end of the indicating arm 23 rests. A coiled spring 27 having a proper tension is mounted on the shaft 15 with its lower end bearing upon the upper face of the arm 23, thus giving it a frictional engagement therewith, whereby this indicator arm will normally move with the shaft 15, and yet has a limited movement independent thereof. This indicating arm 23 las a slidable indicating finger 25 adapted to cooperate with either of the scale lines 29 on the plate 18 for the purpose of determining the size of the slice in ounces or pounds, and in combination with ounces and pounds it will, by indicating inarks and figures, also allowing for the fluctuation of prices on cheese, compute five cent and't'en'c'ent cuts.

To fully describe my scale, 1' will make use of 20' ter pound would be sold for o cts: if 19 c'ts. per lb. a

mark or dot will be found a little further than the fourth ounce from the starting point, thereby necessitatinga slight further movement of the indicator. In

like manner any desired quantity of cheese can readily be measured either-in weight or'in money value. prefer thein'ner'scale for the lightest cheese and will limit same at 2515s., therefore, each line towards the outer one' will measure a cheese of one lb. greater weiglitjthe'outeron twentieth line will then compute can be added if desired and the lightest weight could be placed in the outerline. It is obvious that for a liglt clieese'the' indicator 23 will' m0ve a greater distance, and also the t'ur'n table which turns in relation toit', than they would forac'lfjeese of greater weight.

Tothe lower" face of theinn'er end of the operating arm 19'is fikedap'endent pin 22 which passes through an opening24 inthe innerend of the indicator 23, Fig. 7, which opening'ismuchlarger than the pin, whereby should the pawl fail to at once turn the ratchet, wl icltis-rig'i'dly fixed on tlle'slfaft 15, the pin 22 would not move-the indicator; It is important the latter in its computing action slou'ld'turn only with relation to the shaft 15. To tlie upperend'of'one of the standards 17 is fixed-a spring28 whose outer end impinges firmly on the'adjacent portion of the rod 15 to prevent the gears from taking up any back loose motion when the o'per'atingarm and indicator arm are returned tothe starting point.

011 one side of the base 1 is rigidly fixeda bracket o'supporting'the knife-guiding bracket 31 as follows: Oh the lower end oftlie bracket 31 Figs. 1 and 5, is arran edtlie' integral cross'piece34 pivoted at its ends iu-said bracket 30by means of the bolts or set screws 35; whereby the uiding bracket 31 l as a limited adjustm'ent with respectto the table if desired. This knife-guide 31 1' asan'integrallateral' lug 37 at its base, through which passes the vertical bolt 36 whose lower end is arranged in-the 1ug3 6 of the base 1 Fig. 5, and bymeans-of which the guide 31' is normally secured firmly in its'adjusted upright position. This bolt 36 has anadjustab le nut 5] arranged thereon'between the base lug 37 of the guide 31 and the lug 30, with which latter the bolt 36 is'in-atlreaded engagement, and'las upon its'opposite ends the nuts 52 and 53, respectively,

by tlie adjustment of which the guide 31 may be rigidly i secured in its upright position in a well understood manner. This upright guide has a vertical slotv 32 throughout its length, and has a lateral offset 33 at its upper end.

The'cutting knife 38, preferably angular in contour and of proper dimensions, has its upper edge provided with an operating handle 39 whose forward end is provided with the bifurcations 40, each of which has its free end pivotally connected to the upper endof the supporting bracket 41 by means of the bolt 42, and which bracket in turn is pivotally mounted at its lowerend on the supporting brackets 30 by means of the bolts 43. The knife 38 has at its outer lower corner a fixed transverse bolt 38 which is slidably arranged in the guiding slot 32 of the bracket 31, whereby the knife in descent and cutting action is automatically controlled to impart to its lower cutting edge a downward draw-cut when first cutting through the crust of a cheese, after which it automatically changes in its radial movement until the cutting edge assumes a position parallel with that of the upper surface of the turn-table.

To firmly secure and support the last portion of the cheese to be subdivided, I have provided a detachable vertical plate 44 having at one lower corner a lug 44 adapted to'fit the curved perimeter of the turn-table 4, and to be'firmly but detachably secured thereto in I an uprightposition, as shown in Fig. 6, by means of the a cheese weighing 45 lbs.- A greater number of lines I set-screws 49. This plate 44 has a vertical slot 45 there- 1 in in which is arranged a thumb-screw 47. On one side'of this plate 44 is arranged a horizontal bracket 46 having upon its upper face an internally screwthreaded lug 50 in which the inner end of the thumbscrew 47 is secured thereby affording to the bracket 46 a vertical adjustment. This bracket 46 also has a plurality of pendent fixed serrated plates 48 adapted to be holdingl'y inserted into the top of a cheese andthereby rigidly secure the cheese during the'operation of cutting.

The operation of my invention thus described is obviou's'and briefly stated is as follows: When it is de sired to place a cheese upon the machine of my invention for retailing in the us'ual'way, thoknifc is elevated out of the way into the position shown by dotted outline in Fig. 5, where it will securely'remain since tliebolt 38 rests in tlie'off-set 33. The turn-table 4, is then elevated by means of the hand-lever 9 whose outer end is temporarily secured in the off-set ll. of the slot 10. The cheese is now placed upon the turn table 4 and shifted thereon until'the cheese has been accurately centered or balanced upon the turn-table, which now rests upon the conicalpoint of the stud 5, after which the turn-table and the le'ver'9 are returned to their nornial position with the washers 7 resting upon the upper edge of the base 1. The knife is now brought intouse for the removal of a triangular section of the cheese during which operation it is automatically controlled in its descent and makes a radial draw-cut, being accurately guided by means of the bolt 38 in the slot 32, until its cutting edge comes into a position parallel with the surface of the turn-table, and then rests squarely thereon. my construction for mounti'ng and guiding the knife, above described, I secure the draw-cut action of the knife in its highest degree and most efficient action at that point in its descent where it is most needed, namely; at the point where it enters the outer and hard crust of the cheese; thereby obviating the liability of crushing and crumbling a brittle cheese in cutting. When the cutting action is completed the cutting edge of the knife from point to heel rests normal upon the surface of the said turntable. After the removal of this preliminary cut the plate 44 is placed in its radial position with that face shown in Fig. 6 pressed firmly against one face of the cheese, after which the holding plate 46 is pressed into the top of the cheese and secured in such position by means of the thumb-screw 17. The cheese for convenience is so arranged upon the turn-table that the side of the radial cut adjacent to the scale plate 29 is in alinement with the cutting edge of the knife; and the indicating finger 25 being so adjusted longitudinally upon the arm 23 as to follow in its movements that one of the semicircular concentric lines shown on the said scale-plate which corresponds to the weight of the cheese, the operator moves the arm 23 to the right by means of the operating handle 19 until the finger 25 reaches the mark or dot which indicates the desired quantity either in weight or value, the turn-table, of course, rotating a corresponding distance, and carrying with it the surmounted cheese. The operator now lowers the knife 38 which thus severs the desired quantity by a radial draw cut, the knife being so arranged that the lower corner of the inner end of the knife will make a clean cut to the gravity center of the cheese. in the mean time the cheese body is firmly held by the plate 44 in the manner described. The fractional indicator arm 23 can readily be returned after each operation without moving the turn-table by means of the operating handle 19 which engages the same by means of the pin 22, as described.

When from any cause a cheese has been distorted in contour, as by heat in storage, it can be accurately centered upon the turn-table when elevated and balanced upon the pivotal support, after which each slice from any part of the diameter of the cheese, will be properly measured as before described.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific mechanism described, as many equivalent means may be employed to carry out my generic invention of a cheese cutter having a radially controlled automatic changeable moving blade adapted for a draw-cut in operation when it first enters the cheese, then changing in its radial movement. For example a gear made in an elliptical form could readily be pro vided which would vary the arc movement of the knife instead of the slotted guiding standard 31.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cheese cutter a knife having two cutting edges at right angles and a radially movable fulcrum adapted to afford to the said knife a radial drawcut. and provided with a fixed upright coiiperative guide adapted to control the radial movement of the said fulcrum and of the said knife. in combination with a rotatable turn-table.

2. In a cheese cutter. an upright bracket pivotally fulcrumed at its lower end; a knife pivotally fulcrumed in the upper end of the said bracket, and having inner and lower cutting edges in right angular relation to each other; and means for guiding the movements of the knife in effecting a radial draw-cut.

Ii. A cheese cutting blade; a radially movable fulcrum for the said blade; and a fixed vertical guide adapted to so control the said blade in its descent as to secure a radial draw-cut, in combination with a rotatable turn table; and means for rotating the said turntable.

l. A cheese supporting turn-table rotatably mounted upon a supporting base; means for rotating the turntable;'and means for throwing said table rotating means out of action by a vertical adjustment of the turntable.

A rotatable cheese supporting turn-table in cooperative relation with the cheese cutting knife, means for actuating the said table when in its normal position; means for throwing said table actuating means out of action by a vertical adjustment of the table for the purpcse of centering the surmounted cheese by gravity; a radially movable fulcrum for the said knife; a knife pivoted on said fulcrum and having a draw-cut; and a guide for the said knife adapted to control the move rent of the said fulcrum.

(i. In a cheese cutting apparatus. a rotatable and vertically adjustable table normally at its lowest limit; means for rotatably actuating the table when in its normal position; means for elevating the said table tem-' porarily for the purpose of centering the' said surmounted cheese by gravity; a horizontal graduated scale-plate arranged above the cheese; indicating mechanism in cooperation therewith; and means for operatively connectingthe indicating mechanism with the turn-table actuating means.

7. In a cheese cutter a rotatable cheese supporting table adapted for a limited vertical adjustment to throw it out of gear with its actuating means, for the purpose of centering the surmounted cheese by gravity; a knife pivoted upon a radially movable fulcrum means for rotatably actuating the table; a fixed upright guide for the said knife: and a holding plate detachably mounted on the said table in vertical relation, and provided with means for firmly engaging the cheese body as described.

8. In a cheese cutting apparatus, a cheese supporting table rotatably mounted upon a fixed support; means for actuating the said table; means for balancing the said table at its center upon a pivotal support free from the actuating means for the purpose of centering the surmounted cheese; a graduated scale plate; indicating mechanism in cooperative relation with the scale-plate; means for imparting to the table actuating means and the indicating mechanism a simultaneous and cooperative movement; and a radially movable knife plate adapted to sever the cheese body by a draw-cut.

9. In a cheese cutting apparatus, a cheese carrying turn-table rotatably mounted upon a supporting base normally in gear with the actuating means; actuating means for the said turn-table; and means for throwing the turn-table out of gear by a vertical adjustment thereof for the purpose of balancing the cheese thereon to make its gravity center coincide with the axial center of the turntable.

10. In a cheese cutting apparatus, a cheese carrying turn-table rotatably mounted upon a supporting base, and normally ingear with its actuating means. and adapted to be thrown out of action by a vertical adjustment when it is desired to so center the cheese thereon as to make its gravity center coincide with the axial center of the turn-table; and actuating means for the said turntable.

11. In a cheese cutter a knife adapted to be operated to and from a horizontally rotatable turn-table; a rotatable turn-table in cooperative relation with the said knife; a radially movable fulcrum for the said knife; and a cooperative guide adapted to control a radial movement of the said fulcrum and of the said knife.

12. In a cheese cutter, a supporting base; a horizontally rotatable table mounted upon said base; a radially guided cutting knife; a radially movable fulcrum for the said knife; and means for controlling the movements of said knife and said fulcrum, for the purpose described.

13. A cheese cutter having a radially movable fulcrum and knife, in cooperative relation with the horizontally rotating turn-table, and means for controlling the movement of said fulcrum and knife for the'purpose of imparting to said knife a dra\v-cut.

14. In a cheese cutter a knife operating to and from a turn-table; a turn-table 1-otatably mounted upon a base in combination with a measuring device comprising an index arm having a frictional turning engagement on a shaft; an upright rotatable shaft in gear with the said turn-table, and carrying the said arm; a plurality of scales to indicate any desired size or value of segment of the cheese; and an indicating finger slidably mounted upon said arm in cooperative relation with the said scales to indicate the size of the desired segment to be cut from the surmounted cheese.

15. In a cheese cutting apparatus, a pivotally mounted cheese car ying-turn-table; means for rotating the turntable; meansl'or so balancing the turntable that a cheese can be centered thereon by gravity, whereby the gravity center of the cheese will coincide with the axial center of the turn-table.

17. In a cheese cutting apparatus means for centering the cheese, consisting of a cheese carrying turn-table rotatably mounted upon a supporting base; means for actuating the turn-table; and means for pivotally supporting the turn-table to permit the centering of the cheese thereon by avity to make its gravity center coincide with the tlkltll center of the turn-tablev 18v In a cheese cutting apparatus means for centering the cheese consisting of a cheese carrying turn-table rotatably mounted upon a supporting base; means for actuating the turu-tabie; and means for disengaging the turn-table from its actuating means and pivotally sup porting it at its center to permit the centering of the surmounted cheese by gravity for the purpose specified.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, this th day 01 October, 1904.

\VILLIAU l". KESSLER. 

